March 1897

Monday 1st   It was a very showery day.  We were busy all day getting exhibits ready for the Show.
We hauled 8 Cases of Damsons down to the Wharf in the evening also some of the exhibits down to the Hall.

Tuesday 2nd   The wind has gone round to the SW and the weather has cleared up and was a very fine day.  Took the remainder of the exhibits down to the Hall.
The Show was held in Mr Harpers paddock and in the Hall.  The Steamer arrived about 12 noon, about 50 passengers came up by her, the Miss Hardings. Miss Pilcher and C. Gravatt  came up here for lunch.  There was tea & supper in a tent and the concert & dance in the Hall.  We got home about 4 next morning, havinf enjoyed a very pleasant day.  Miss Spencer staid here.

Wednesday 3rd   We fetched up the exhibits from the Hall in the morning.  Had a great difficulty in getting the pig home and in coming up the hill it died and we buried it near the swamp.  Jane took Miss Spencer over to Pakiri in the afternoon.

Thursday 4th   It was a fine day.  I was mending up the fence between our place & Mathesons in the afternoon.

Friday 5th   It was a fine day.  Willie & I went up to Jos Greenwoods in the morning about some Wethers, but he had not got them in, so we had to come down again.  I picked some Damsons in the afternoon.  Killed a Sheep in the evening.

Saturday 6th   It was a fine day.  We were picking Damsons in the farm orchard in the morning.  Revd  E. M. Cowie had dinner and tea here and staid all night.
Willie & I went up to Jos Greenwoods in the afternoon and bought 12 wethers at  7/-

.                             £4 . 4 . 0
Allowed                     2 . 0
.                              £4 . 2 . 0
He helped up to drive them down and I put them in the paddock at the back of the house.
There was a meeting of the Road Board in the Hall in the evening.

Sunday 7th    It was a very showery day.  Revd Cowie went to Pakiri early in the morning and conducted service there, he returned here for tea,  Mr Cooper of Auckland was also here for tea.  Mr Cowie held service in the Hall in the evening, there were between 30 & 40 present and 16.8½ collected.  After service he went to Mr Birdsalls.

Monday 8th   It was a fine day.  Willie & I were picking Damsons & Pears all day.  There was a meeting of the Road Board in the Hall in the evening.

Tuesday 9th   It was a fine day.  We finished picking the Pears in the morning, and then we hauled the fruit down to the Wharf.  Maud was here for lunch, and  C.  Gravatt was here for tea.  The “Rose Casey” should have been here at 1 pm, but she did not arrive here until 4 pm, and then she was unable to get alongside of the Wharf so she had to boat the fruit out and the goods back.
Hauled a Bag of Flour from Harpers.

Wednesday 10th   I was pitching over some wood on to the road below the School, and as I was coming home I was caught in a heavy shower of rain that wet me through.

Thursday 11th   It was a fine day.  I went with C. Wyatt to lay out some work for the Road Board down at the beach in the morning.  In the afternoon I hauled two loads of firewood with the bullocks.
Jane and Miss McGill went up to Kempts in the afternoon.  We killed a Sheep in the evening.

Friday 12th   It was a very showery day.  The girls had intended to go to Matakana in the evening to a Concert & Tableax got up by
Mrs G.  Cruikshank  in aid of the Sunday School, but in consequence of the weather it was put off for a fortnight.

Saturday 13th   It was a showery day.

Sunday 14th   It was a fine day.  I was very unwell and was lying down for the greater part of the day.
Mrs J. C. Wyatt & Mrs Gregory called in the afternoon and staid for tea.  I was unable to conduct service in the evening.  The girls went down into the village in the evening and there were a good many waiting at the Hall.

Monday 15th   It was a fine day.  I was picking & packing fruit to send away (Pears).  The girls went to Mrs D. Mathesons in the evening.

Tuesday 16th   It was a fine day.  I packed a few more cases of Pears  in the morning and then we hauled them down to the Wharf.
5 Cases Pears
1 Crate  (10)  Fowls

Wednesday 17th  St Patrick.  It was a showery day.  We took the bullocks down to the E.R. and hauled home 2 Sacks of Potatoes.  In the afternoon it was too wet, so I cleaned out the Store.
Mr Wm  Burton called and staid for tea, we had a long talk together.
The girls went to Matakana in the evening.

Thursday 18th   It was a fine day.  We took the bullocks down to the E.R. and hauled home the remainder of the Potatoes and also 4 Sacks of Cocksfoot Seed.
The girls went to Mrs Dunnings in the evening, on account of May’s birthday.
Killed a Sheep in the evening .

Friday 19th   It was a fine day.  Charlie Wyatt & I started at 8 am on Road Board business, we went through Pakiri, near Henry Brown’s place, through Tomarata to Te Arai, called at Mr G. Jennings place, but he was not at home, we then called at his son Thomas place who we found at home, he asked us in to have some dinner, we found that his wife was formerly Miss Annie Young.  After dinner he came and showed us the roads he wished attending to.  We then went on the Matakana  Te Arai road to Whangaripa valley, we went to Mr Ernest Viponds who received us very Kindly and put us up for the night.  We had a look round his farm before dark and was very pleased with his grass which is the best I have seen North of Auckland.

Saturday 20th   It was a fine day.  We had breakfast at Mr Viponds and soon after we started for Matakana, on our way we were overtook by Mr Hugh Smith  whom I had not spoken to for years.  He and Mr Vipond were going to play in the Cricket Match between Omaha and Matakana clubs.  Called at Cruickshanks store to pay my Subscription to the Wekkly News.  I also called at Matthews and then went on to the Cricket match which was played in Mr Meiklejohns paddock near to Mr Ashtons.  Mr Ashton supplied the lunch.  The result of the match was that Matakana beat in one innings to Omaha’s two and two runs to spare.
Returned home for tea and in the evening we all went down to the Hall to hear a lecture on Physiogoxomy by Professor Hugo.

Sunday 21st   It was a fine day.   I read service in the Hall in the evening.

Monday 22nd   It was a fine day.  Wind at the SW.  I thought it a good opportunity to burn the tea tree, so set fire to it in the afternoon,  Charlie Wyatt helped me, and Tom Wyatt came to look after his fence.  It burned very clean up by Tom Wyatts fence and below Grandfathers.

Tuesday 23rd   It was a fine day.  I picked and packed 4 Cases Beurre Dul Pears and hauled them down to the Wharf for I thought the Steamer would come in at 1 oclock, but she did not come until 4 pm, and being low water then she could not come alongside the wharf so she waited until the tide made, she did not go out until 8 pm.

Wednesday 24th   It was a fine day.   The wind has shifted to the N.  I was burning tea tree, Charlie was helping me in the pm.

Thursday 25th   It was a fine day.   I was putting together the tea tree.

Friday 26th   There were several showers during the day.
Miss Niccol, Miss McGill & Jane went to Matakana in the evening to an entertainment got up by Mrs G. Cruickshank in aid of the Sunday School.  I Killed a Sheep in the evening.

Saturday 27th   I took the mutton out in the morning & putting the tea tree together in the afternoon.

Sunday 28th   It was a fine day.   Revd J. W. Worboys held service in the Hall in the afternoon, there was a good congregation.  Jim Dunning and John Cruickshank were here for tea.

Monday 29th   It was a fine day.  I fixed up the fence near the stockyard in the morning.  In the afternoon I was clearing up tea tree and burning.  Henry Dunning came to spend the evening.

Tuesday 30th   It was a fine day.   I was burning tea tree in the morning.  The Steamer did not come in until after 5 pm .
Miss McGill, who has been staying with us for a few weeks went away by the steamer.  There was a great quantity of Fruit and Charcoal sent away.

Wednesday 31st   It was a fine day.   I was putting the tea tree together and burning it near the gate.  In the afternoon I was doing odd jobs at the house.